George Boyd will appreciate this week’s column inches and headlines more than most after his header settled this drab relegation battle.

‘You know it’s your day if George Boyd scores at the far post from a 40-yard cross,’ said his manager Steve Bruce, who is still aggrieved he was without the talented Scotland international for three matches for spitting at Joe Hart.

Bruce said: ‘There’s no way George Boyd would ever spit at anybody but the system didn’t allow George to go and speak to them.

Comeback: Boyd returned to the team after receiving a three-game ban for spitting at Man City keeper Joe Hart

Nearly there: Hull teammates congratulate Boyd after the win that takes them within touching distance of survival

‘If they had they might have got a sense of what a great lad he is. I’ve had players in the past who are capable of it but George is not. That’s why we were so disappointed.’

The last time Boyd spoke post-match, he was oblivious to the accusation of spitting at Manchester City keeper Hart during their heated exchange of views after the Hull midfielder had tumbled during the visitors’ win at the KC Stadium.

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It only came to light after the incident had been slowed down on TV — another contention in the Hull camp. Boyd was charged by the FA and banned for three matches. End of story.

Boyd would prefer it that way too now after he was thrust into the Barclays Premier League spotlight for a few days, unable to defend himself. The goal helped his mood.

‘It has been a horrible couple of weeks,’ he said. ‘But hopefully it is put to bed. Everyone close to me knows I didn’t do it and hopefully we can move one.

Flare up: Boyd and Hart come together after the Hull player allegedly spat at the England keeper

Wrongly accused: Hull boss Steve Bruce insists that Boyd is not the type of player to spit at anyone

‘I still feel hard done by, you don’t want to be labelled that it is one of the worst things you can be labelled. We all know I didn’t do it. We can’t do much about it now.

SUPER STAT

This was Hull City’s 56th Barclays Premier League game at the KC Stadium and the first time they have achieved back-to-back victories.

This was the 68th meeting between the two teams who are one of the few Premier League sides to have played each other in all four divisions.

‘I didn’t even know about it until afterwards. I did all the interviews with the press after the game and no one had even said anything to me so it was a surprise.

‘I’ve seen the footage and it looks bad because they slowed it down so much but I didn’t do it. We had great evidence to put to the FA but they made their decision and we move on.

‘It is magnified in the Premier League, which is the main thing. If it has been in the Championship nothing would have been said but it was on TV and with the amount of cameras, it was blown out of proportion.’

Their Barclays Premier League status as good as secure, Hull City can now look forward to their first FA Cup semi-final for 84 years and enjoy their day out at Wembley.

And relax: Boyd wheels away in relief after what he hasdescribed as 'a horrible two weeks

Man in the mask: Hull supporter wears a Steve Bruce face in support of his team at the KC Stadium

That’s the plan after this dogged win over shot-shy relegation rivals Swansea City took them to 34 points, already their highest top-flight total.

Matchwinner Boyd, recalled after his three-game spitting ban in place of the injured Tom Huddlestone, said Wembley was not even mentioned after their quarter-final win over Sunderland last month. But the showdown with League One Sheffield United is very much a reality now, at stake Hull’s first ever FA Cup final appearance, and a Europa League place. A day out with victory in mind.

Boyd said: ‘We couldn’t have gone there with a loss and still looking over our shoulders. It is a relief to go there full of confidence to enjoy the day.

Eyes wide shut: Jake Livermore (R) and Jonjo Shelvey compete for a header during the game

ON our way Hull have a FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United to look forward to Wembley

‘The aim when we got to the semi-final a few weeks ago was to get our status secured or near enough done so that would take the pressure off and we could go there and enjoy it and play our own game. The fans will love it and it will be a great day out

‘We can’t take Sheffield United lightly. They have beaten Premier League opposition throughout the rounds.

‘It has been a fantastic season for everyone. We were written off by everyone at the start but in the dressing room we knew we had enough to have a good season., And to survive and possibly win a Europa Cup place would be phenomenal.’ Defeat left Swansea still looking over their shoulders but angry manager Garry Monk was having none of that.

Bouncebackability: Swansea boss Garry Monk wants to see an immediate reaction from his team after defeat

‘We don’t care what anyone else is doing,’ he said. ‘We have to affect what we can. And we were poor.

‘I’ll make sure we get a reaction next week by making them understand things like this can’t happen.

‘We haven’t got time to do that, not in the situation we’re in. I couldn’t have made it more clear to them. I spelt it out to them since I took over.’